A/N: I know you all know this already, but this story was entirely written for my BFF, theladyingrey42. Her story, Love Amongst the Ruins, was just completed last night. If you haven't read it, it's a must. Congrats, babe! With this chapter, big thanks to ahizelm for beta-ing and Miss_Becky_Louise for keeping Edward British.

I also wanted to say thank you for all the lovely reviews and all the alerts. This is quickly becoming my most popular story and I love to hear all your responses to these two and their journey.

And now, what has Edward been doing all day while Jasper was at the Bay of Fires? Hmmm…. By the way, the song for this chapter is one of my favorites ever.

The Setting: Bicheno - The Aquarium and Bicheno Bay

The Music: If I Could, Phish

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EPOV

I awake with a start, sitting straight up in my bunk and almost smacking my head into the one above me. The dream had seemed so real. I could almost feel his touch, taste him in my mouth still. I rub my thumb over my fingers, wondering if that tingling is the remnant of my dream as well. Jasper's hair had been silky between my fingers as I pulled him to me, our mouths finally connecting with fire and passion.

I shake my head to clear those thoughts; it wouldn't do to walk out of this room with a screaming hard-on. I think about the most disgusting things I can: rotten food, worms, Gram in her underwear. Yup, that did it.

I stand lazily and stretch, noticing Jasper's bunk is empty and his small pack is gone. Man, he's an early riser. The girls are still curled up in their bunks, so I slip out to the common area with my book, determined to find some food. After breakfast and a good hour of immersion in my fantasy novel, I tip-toe back into the room, grabbing clean clothes, my towel and toiletries before heading to the shower.

As I wash myself, I feel the last vestiges of my dream finally fall away from me. This is precisely why I needed to spend a day away from him. My brain is already wrapped up in Jasper and I need at least a few hours to clear my head. He has a boyfriend and, admittedly, I'm really not in the best place to start a relationship even if he was available. I scrub my head in frustration.

How could this southern boy with his lazy smile get under my skin so quickly? Into my head? Into my dreams?

I've never felt so out of control and it is freaking me the fuck out. I'm always in control. I know exactly what I want from my life and I have a plan to get it. But, Jasper... He walks into a room and I forget my well-laid plans. Hell, I forget my name. It's as if the whole world melts away and there's just us.

My fingers are starting to turn pruny, so I leave the warm water, drying myself and getting dressed. I told Jasper I would visit the aquarium today in Bicheno, which should be a short walk from the hostel. The girls are gone when I return to the room, and I send a small thanks to whoever's watching over me before grabbing my camera and heading downstairs and outside into the sunshine.

The town of Bicheno is very small and hugs a small bit of the rugged coastline. The aquarium is down near the beach, a small metal shed filled with tanks of different varieties of creatures, but an impressive seahorse display, or so I have heard. Actually, I could really care less about the animals. It's really a day to clear my head, to think, to reform my plans without the distraction of the blonde man who has taken over my every thought.

Walking down the hill towards the ocean, I spot the small grey metal shed with the bright sign that says "Bicheno Aquarium." I enter the front door and am greeted by a friendly middle-aged man that gives me the grand tour. There are many colorful seahorses throughout the space with small tanks of sharks, jellyfish and squid. I watch the animals swim and dance while listening to the man talk about aquaculture and raising the sharks outside of their eggs. It's actually quite fascinating and I soak up the information eagerly.

After a couple hours, I exit the small shed and blink in the bright sunlight before I walk down to the beach. Intermixed with the white sand are large, ragged boulders seemingly scattered along the beach before melding with the adjacent cliffs. Trails zigzag through the rocks and continue along the coast for almost a mile. I take my time wandering along the water's edge, taking occasional pictures of the rough ocean waves, remembering the day before and the beautiful bay.

Just like that, my mood turns for the worse.

I had been careful to not think about Jasper for at least a couple hours and now he's back in full force. I have never been so attracted to another man. Even Alistair couldn't compare, which is a good thing, I think. Alistair had disaster written all over him from his first "Hey, luv" and it never stopped. I ignored all the warnings. This, with Jasper, feels different though; I'm thinking differently.

I sit on a large boulder, settling my bag next to me and stare at the blue water under the clear blue sky. Why is it different? I know no more about Jasper than I did Alistair. That's not entirely true, because I knew Alistair was a player. Even that first night, he wasn't alone. Yes, he broke my heart, but I saw the signs and ignored them all, steering myself into disaster.

On the other hand, I'm not sure my heart is completely healed, that I should be thinking about another try. Especially with a man who lives in another country and has a boyfriend.

Oh, yeah. Well, there's that.

I sigh and tilt my face back to catch a little more of the sun, realizing it is a lot closer to the horizon than I expect. Looking at the time, I notice it's approaching five o'clock. I hurriedly gather my things and stop at the store on the way back to the hostel. I hope I beat Jasper there and I can whip up some dinner for him and me, returning the favor of his chili last night.

I'm putting the last touches on my curry and stirring the rice when I hear Jasper greeting a fellow hostel-mate downstairs. He enters the common area, and with one look at his forlorn face, I know I made the right decision. His lips turn up into his irresistible smile as I show him to the table and start bringing the pots over.

We eat and talk about our days. He tells me about the amazing beaches he saw and I explain the delicate nature of shark eggs.

"Sounds like you had a great day, J. Maybe I'll have to add that bay to my 'must-see' list," I say around a mouthful of curry.

His face darkens minutely before he smiles again. "Yeah, I think you'd like the contrasting colors there between the orange rocks and the blue water. It was amazing."

"Did you take any pictures while you were there?" I ask, curious if he'd share them with me.

"A couple at the beginning, but I got...um, distracted. Then I forgot," he mumbles at the end, staring at his food and pushing it around with his fork.

"I'm sorry, Jasper, I didn't mean to offend. I just was hoping to see a couple."

His face brightens considerably and he nods. "Sure, I can send them to you when I get home. I don't have anyway to get them off the camera right now, and the view-finder really doesn't do them justice."

This is the second time he has mentioned us keeping in contact after we part ways. Does he want to stay friends? Am I reading too much into this? If my sister were here, she'd already have smacked me upside the head. Stop thinking, just do.

"Right. We'll just have to swap pictures when we get back home then."

Then I remember something I learned at the aquarium, part of the fame of Bicheno.

"Jasper, I'd like to show you something tonight. Would you join me for a walk after dinner?"

He looks at me curiously, swallowing his bite before answering. "Sure. Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, but I think you'll really like it." I really am taking a chance with this, but the aquarium owner had been vehement about them being something not to miss. Them being the fairy penguins that come ashore every night in downtown Bicheno, flooding the beaches and wandering through the streets. He'd advised that there were several good spots to watch for them where they emerge from the water.

We clean up our dishes and it's almost time to leave. I grab a jumper and he does the same, still regarding me curiously. "Seriously, Edward. You're not even going to give me a hint."

"Nope," I say succinctly, knowing that if I continue, I most likely will tell him everything.

"Okay, fine. Be that way. I won't say another word if we can make a deal."

Now it's my turn to be suspicious. What's he playing at? "Um, what's the deal before I agree?"

"I get to surprise you tomorrow. We have to drive back to Hobart, but there's a small detour I really want to make. If you let me take you there, as a surprise, then I won't have any more questions for you tonight."

I watch him as his eyes light up in excitement over his 'detour' tomorrow, knowing I wouldn't deny him anything. I hold out my hand and he grasps it firmly in his own.

"Deal," I agree, trying to keep the yearning that results from his touch alone out of my voice. His fingers linger in mine for a second longer and I wonder if he feels it, too. The tingle, the excitement that spreads from our touch through the rest of my body.

God, I hope so.

I shake my head slightly to clear my thoughts and catch him smirking at me.

"Come on, ya bastard," I say while turning towards the door and sliding on my jumper.

The walk to the beach is short and we both stay silent, enjoying the cool ocean breeze and the quiet stillness of the night. We near the beach and scramble down the path to the ocean.

"Edward, why are we here?"

"Shhh. You'll see soon enough. We have to stay quiet, we don't want to scare them."

"Them who?" he whispers, standing closer to me.

"The penguins."

"The what?" he questions, his voice rising in surprise.

And then we hear them. A small squawk from the water and a small black body waddling across the white sand, illuminated in the moonlight. And then there are more. And more. Hundreds of small black shapes awkwardly walking along the land up the beach and into town.

"Wow," he breathes and I can hear the reverence in his voice.

"I know," I agree, understanding what the big deal is. This is amazing, a once in a lifetime experience.

We take seats on the same boulder that I sat on for part of the afternoon and watch the penguins' journey from above. I can't help but look over to watch Jasper's face, his eyes wide in awe, blonde hair glimmering in the pale light of the moon and all I see is beauty. Beauty I want to touch, but can't. Shouldn't.

My fingers twitch with desire, my body tense with restraint. It's with both relief and disappointment that I remember that tomorrow is our last day together. Tomorrow, his surprise, my last opportunity. Do I take it? Do I let him slip away?

I come back to the moment and find Jasper staring into my eyes, a quiet smile on his lips.

I have my answer.

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